Eels center Timana Tahu has switched codes and signed a four year deal with the Waratahs from 2008. It was unexpected at Tahu had earlier claimed that:
he would not consider playing rugby “as a last resort”, claiming he had no interest in handling the ball only “two times in a game”.
Tahu now claims that his comments were designed to kill any rumours regarding a possible defection. And even though it was a porky, he deserves praise for not making his decision the usual media circus. Tahu will do well out of union and is the winner. He’ll be able to look back on getting a lot of money not to do a hell of a lot. The NRL has more than enough depth in outside backs so that a player of Tahu’s ability won’t be missed.
The loser out of this is the ARU. Sure they can crow about poaching another player from league but the point is why? Outside backs aren’t going to solve Australia’s immediate problems (even though a lack of speed is an issue here). Australian rugby had problems as anyone watching this year’s Super 14 can see. Until the ARU loses its fixation on pandering to the needs to league players after the money, the obvious problems that have made this years Super 14 painful to watch will never be resolved.
3 responses so far ↓
Club Troppo » Missing Link // Mar 22, 2007 at 12:28 pm
[...] At Sidelined, Shaun Cronin covers the defection to rugby union of centre Timana Tahu (from Shaun’s beloved Parramatta Eels). [...]
Mungo Amanda // Mar 23, 2007 at 5:01 am
Ewan Mackenzie:
“I spoke to Eric eight years ago when he was 18. Eddie and I pushed very hard. We almost got him over the line,” McKenzie said. “In the end, the drawcard of Parramatta and his father’s connection probably got him to Parramatta. But now he has done all [he can] in league and that interest he had way back then is probably rekindled.”
Everything except … won a premiership ….
Shaun // Mar 23, 2007 at 7:52 am
The latest is Grothe won’t get much money. As for your last sentence, there is always this year!